QUOTE: Originally posted by cwclark I understand where you are coming from..I also went to two layouts this past weekend and have come to the conclusion that it's the individual not the group as a whole...the first layout i visited was a very well done HO layout but the host was a a bit preoccupied and was more interested in talking to his buddies there than any outsider...maybe it was a fear of strangers in his layout domain..I really can't tell you...the second layout i went to was another well done layout in N scale..the host was very friendly and did a lot of talking and explaining what this was or what that was...I felt right at home in his layout...another thing i've noticed is that it may not be the individual at all, but the cause of the unfriendliness is the layout itself....some of the guys on the throttles where so busy trying their best to keep up with the trains running that they really didn't have time to sit and chat with the guests...you know how that is...walk away from the train and a disaster is in the making....I found this so true ..the guys running the trains were really trying to keep up with them that the slightest distraction would be the makings of a derailment or a car separating from the train...can't really blame them there....chuck
Have fun with your trains
QUOTE: Originally posted by rolleiman .... And some people wonder why I wouldn't open my Home to the public on one of these tour routes.. This and the experience Paul3 relayed, are good enough reasons for me.. A little off topic I know, I still wouldn't join a group of grumpy old men, I'll be one soon enough myself.. Jeff
QUOTE: If your club is going to have an open house then it should be an open house not an operating session with people watching. New people want to see trains run.
QUOTE: Have some running that don't require mission launch attention and have people with no other function than to greet guests.
QUOTE: Too many 'open houses' I've been to really should have been called "we want you to stand in awe of our amazing layout, shut up, and watch us play"...
QUOTE: I certainly understand your viewpoint, but I don't think Mike was nearly as "condemning" as you seem to think. He asked a lot of questions based on his observation, but seems more to be genuinely interested in the standoffishness he encountered than in being critical or condeming.
QUOTE: You clearly suggest what a hassle you feel the open house to be. Your frustration is nearly palpable. You indicate that it's difficult to operate the trains and deal with visitors at the same time. You suggest that you have people in who are not respectful of your layout or don't understand the proper care that must be taken...
QUOTE: It goes back to the same point - if you're not prepared to welcome the public (warts, kids and all) with open arms, if you're not prepared to focus on the visitors rather than the layout and operation, if you're not prepared to fully focus on preventing... shall we say 'youthful enthusiasm' from causing damage, then what exactly is the point? What are you hoping to accomplish? why have an open house at all?
QUOTE: 1. Come up with a point to it all. It’s got to be more about showing off your trains. Perhaps showing off the hobby? Create a theme for the open house.
QUOTE: 2. Once you have your purpose (point), then it’s time to accommodate it. Place your most outgoing people (who shower regularly ) at a place where they will effectively engage the visitors. Keep your old “grumps” and more intense members on the throttles in the background. HINT: If you are the type of person who gets bothered by a visitor asking a question while you're on the throttle - then stay in the background because you are likely a grump.
QUOTE: 3. Clean the place up. Remove all clutter and/or obstacles.
QUOTE: 4. Consider running guided tour groups at intervals.
QUOTE: 5. If your club is tight for space (as most are), consider controlling how many people are allowed in at any given time. Nothing turns off people more than a crowded room in which it gets too frustrating to move around.
QUOTE: 6. Anticipate kids. Know that they will inevitably reach and try to touch things, and that their parents won’t be attentive to them. Put fragile items out of reach. Consider putting up Plexiglas around those sensitive areas so they can look but can’t touch.
QUOTE: 7. Place plenty of benches and/or step stools for kids so they can see the layout.
QUOTE: 8. Clearly mark areas that people should not be in, but don’t go overboard. The last thing you want is too long a list of DONT’S. It leaves a bad impression with people.
QUOTE: 9. Remember that it’s a public showing, and if it’s not kids it will be careless adults causing potential trouble. So use some common sense and rethink running your expensive brass or prize trains unless there is little chance of them being interfered with.
QUOTE: 10. Look like your having fun. People DO pick up on this.
QUOTE: Its an Open House not an operating session. I've been to some are where the layout had 2 (or so) continuous loops, they ran one train in each direction, Yep only 2 trains, at a set speed, every hour they would pull one onto a siding and then move another onto the loop. What this did was allow the operator to just let the train run without constantly adjusting it for fiddling with switches or such, and they were then more free to talk with visitors.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul3 QUOTE: Originally posted by kchronister It goes back to the same point - if you're not prepared to welcome the public (warts, kids and all) with open arms, if you're not prepared to focus on the visitors rather than the layout and operation, if you're not prepared to fully focus on preventing... shall we say 'youthful enthusiasm' from causing damage, then what exactly is the point? What are you hoping to accomplish? why have an open house at all? The point? I can't believe you have to ask. [;)] The reason behind everything is...MONEY. Yep, cold hard cash. [8D] Can't live without it, especially a model railroad club. We charge admission for our Open Houses, and we charge table rentals to any dealers that show up (we can fit about 40 tables inside the club as of now). Our annual club budget is in the $30,000-range, and these Shows/Open Houses bring in almost half of our revenues. Sure, we get something out of it besides money. We like running trains, sharing our hobby, hanging out with our friends and fellow members, talking trains, showing off our stuff, getting the next generation involved, all of it. But the be-all and end-all is money. Simply put, we need it, and Open Houses and Shows are the best way for a model railroad club to get it.
QUOTE: Originally posted by kchronister It goes back to the same point - if you're not prepared to welcome the public (warts, kids and all) with open arms, if you're not prepared to focus on the visitors rather than the layout and operation, if you're not prepared to fully focus on preventing... shall we say 'youthful enthusiasm' from causing damage, then what exactly is the point? What are you hoping to accomplish? why have an open house at all?
QUOTE: Originally posted by espee3004 I have found that when attending open houses that people prertty much respond as I treat them. If I am a grump, they are a grump. If I am friendly, they are friendly. I have visited the club mentioned by vsmith both as a grump and friendly. Yes I was treated as I treated them. I do take into account that some people are occupied with keeping the trains we enjoy so much seeing running. Dosn't hurt a bit to cut them a little slack. Dosn't pay to say too much unless you have been there. Some clubs are better organized then others. Thats life. Ralph
QUOTE: Originally posted by kchronister CNJ: I certainly understand your viewpoint, but I don't think Mike was nearly as "condemning" as you seem to think. He asked a lot of questions based on his observation, but seems more to be genuinely interested in the standoffishness he encountered than in being critical or condeming. That aside, my thought on the substance of your post is this:: You clearly suggest what a hassle you feel the open house to be. Your frustration is nearly palpable. You indicate that it's difficult to operate the trains and deal with visitors at the same time. You suggest that you have people in who are not respectful of your layout or don't understand the proper care that must be taken... I'm not trying to be critical here. I really do understand all your points, and I really do think those are valid considerations. But in making them, you are clearly conveying that you feel the public visitors and the open houses in general are an unwelcome hassle for you.
QUOTE: So why not simply knock the folks who show up over the head and take their wallets, purses and milk money? I mean, if you just want their money without actually being bothered with the whole thing, that's a much more effective way. Seriously, you can't say that you're in it for money to a marketing guy... You get posts like this one! It's like hanging raw meat in front of a dog and saying "sit"... Not gonna happen...
QUOTE: You, my friend, have a marketing problem. And you are performing the chief A-number-one sin in my personal catechism: Failing to maximize your profit. For shame!
QUOTE: To me, what you have here is a group of people who are paying half your costs in return for 2 days of (very limited and seemingly somewhat grudging) access, while the members get the other 363 days, full access, for the same price... That's a sweetheart deal if I ever heard of one...
QUOTE: Originally posted by Paul3 ...Maybe I'm just in a bad mood, but I don't get this attitude...
QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831 Casey, the point I was making was if you haven't participated in a club show/open house and experienced all the difficulties that must be addressed, yet are so fully willing to criticize various aspects of the ones you've attended, you need to take a turn behind the tables and see how difficult it is to do all the right things. Many of the responses in this thread, particularly those with lists of recommendations, are clearly from hobbyists that have never done a major club open house. ...